Improvement in plug-tobacco machines



J'. L. JONES.

PLUG-TOBACCO MACHINE. I

No.17Z,746. v Patented Jan. 25,1876.

WITNESSES:

KPETERS FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHE.R WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN L. JONES, OF GREENSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT PLUG-TOBACCO MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent YNo. 172,746, dated January25, 1876; application filed November 13, 1874.

CASE A.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN L. J ONES, of Greensborough, in the county ofGuilford and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tobacco- Presses, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to that class of apparatus for manufacturingplug-tobacco in which molds are employed to receive the tobacco, andwhich molds are provided with afollower carrying a series of knives, insuch manner that, when thefollower is forced into the molds, the samewill act to press the tobacco, and, at the same time, out it into thedesired sized plugs.

jected to successive pressing operations, in

order to effectually attain a perfect pressing of the tobacco in all themolds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan or top view ofa tobaccopress constructed according to my invention, showing thepresser-bar operated by a crankshaft and connecting-rods; Fig. 2, afront elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section, representingthe position of the molds and other parts; and Fig. 3* illustrates thepresser-bar operated by toggle-levers. Fig. 4. isa cross-section of oneof the molds, its follower-plate, and series of cutting-knives.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the table, which isof a sufficient size to receive the series of molds B, which are placededgewiseon the top of the table, and against a vertical abutment, A, atone edge of the table.

The molds, which are made in the form of troughs or boxes, are providedWith open ends, and with one side, which is closed by means of afollower-plate, C, after the mold has been filled with tobacco.

The follower-plate of each mold is constructed with a series of knivesor cutters, D, (see Fig. 4,) said knives being designed to cut thetobacco-plug into pieces of the desired length at the same time that thepressing operation is taking place.

The molds, after having been filled with tobacco, and the follower-plateadjusted in place, are arranged on the table in order to bepressed, aseries of molds being always pressed at the same time. A

The pressing operation is performed by means of a follower orpresser-bar, E, which is moved upon the horizontal table toward or fromthe molds by means of a rock-shaft, F, having cranks G at its ends,which carry connecting rods or links H, attached to the presser-bar E.By turning the said rock-shaft in the proper direction, through themedium of a lever or handle, made either detachable or fixed, thepresser is forced against the outside mold, and the pressure is thustransmitted throughout the entire series of molds.

In order to effectually attain a perfect and uniform pressing andcutting of the tobacco in the molds, I successively remove the moldwhich is against the abutment A of the table,

and move the remaining molds toward the said abutment, and then arrangeafresh mold between the presser-bar and the molds on the table, therebysubjecting the entire series of molds to successive pressing operations.

In order to conveniently remove this mold from the series of molds, Iemploy a vertical plunger or lifting-bar, N which passes up through thetable A adjacent to the abutment A. The lower end of this plunger isconnected with a lever or treadle, M, which is pivoted beneath thetable, and adapted to be operated by the hands or feet. By depressingthis treadle the plunger is forced up, and, coming in contact with theend mold, forces the same up and expels it from the series of molds.

, 2' man;

It will, of course, be evident that any suitable mechanism can beemployed for operating the horizontally-moving presser-bar-t'orinstance, the toggle-levers I, (represented in Fig. 3 or a screw, can beused with advantage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat- "ent is The combination, in a machine for makingplug-tobacco, of the horizontal table for supporting a series of molds,and having an abut-

